In "unbearable" pain after a serious motorcycle accident and 11 surgeries, Dean decided to give physical therapy a chance.

He was highly skeptical at first, but he quickly became a believer in the benefits of physical therapist treatment.

"If someone offered me pain medication today, I would not take it," he said. "Just do the physical therapy. It lessens the pain tremendously."

This video is produced by Net Health in support of APTA's #ChoosePT campaign, raising awareness about the risks of long-term opioid use and safe approaches to pain management.

Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement. You can contact a physical therapist directly for an evaluation. To locate a physical therapist in your area, visit Find a PT.

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